Talking machine



Patented Oct. 7,1919..

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 I @www F E mss TALKING MACHINE.

I APPLICATION FILED MAY 9. I9I8. 1'318,83

of the othercharacter can be ll'bllTFi FEN FQE.'

l FREDRICK E. JOSS, F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO LEKTOPHNECORPORAL' TION, A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE.

TALKING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Uct. 7, 1919.

Application filed May 9, 1918. Serial No. 2.313,421.

'citizen of the United States, residing at borough of Brooklyn, in thecounty of Kings, State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulimprovements in Talking- Machines; and l do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it apper tains to makeand use the same.

This invention relates to talking machines, and in particular tomachines of the Hopkins type, in which'the vibrations of the stylus,during its travel along a phonic line, are transmitted to a conicaldiaphragm of large area, freely supported in unconfined air, in a mannerto m-ove the entire conical portion of the diaphragm bodily.

y ln machines of the character specified, the diaphragm is usuallyattached to the rear end of' a supporting bar, which is mounted to moveacross the record or its equivalent, and which carries a vibrationtransmission connection that extends from the stylus to the such`connection preferably comprising,'in addition to the stylus holder,-

tively, the., cap on the end ofthe bar' being diaphragm a transmissionrod or element which is reoeived within a bore or passage extendingthrough the bar from end to end thereof and isjoin'ed at its frontvend'tc' the holder and at ts'rear end to the apex of the diaphragm. A susually constructed, the mounting of the stylus holder is such that thestylus will operate eliectively only in connection with records vof theso-called lateralcut type, thus precluding its usewith records whereinthe hill-and-dale typeof cutting is followed; and it isthe object of thepresent invention, therefore, to overcome this difliculty by providing atransmission connection which shall be capable of movement from aposition for playing records of one character to a position in whichplaye and vice versa. p

.According to the embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, thesupporting bar is mounted to turn' about its axis, carrying with it thediaphragm and transmission connection; the stylus being thereafter mov-vable relatively to the transmission rod so as to properly position itfor engagement with the. record. The precise details of the constructionwhereby this and other objects are ieloords accomplished, as embodied inthe present disclosure, are not material to the actual invention,however; and for that reason no limitation to such details is intendedor to be imposed, excepting in so far as may necessarily be,involved bythe phraseology of the appended claims.

The accompanying drawing illustrates one form which the invention maytake in practice, andA therein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the improvedsupporting bar and associated devices; Y y

Fig. 2 is a horizontal, longitudinal sectional view thereof, omittingthe bar mounting and the turn-table;

Figs. 3, l and 5 are transverse-vertical u sections, taken respectively,on lines 3-3, fla-e, and 5 5 of Fig. l;

Fig. 6' is an enlarged perspective View of the stylus holder and itsmoust;

Fig. fis a further enlarged detail view ofone of the parts shown in Fig.6; 1

Figs. 8` and 9 are fragmental perspective l views 'of the supportingbar, showing the positions assumed by the parts when set toplaylateral-and-vertical-cut records, respecof the supporting bar,omitting the stylus holder. l r 5 Referring more particularly to saiddrawing, 15 ind1cates generally the supporting -bar of a Hopkins-typetalking machine, and

16 the turn-table across which it is arranged to move, the latterelement being driven vfrom a suitable motor, (not shown), in any desiredmanner.' The bar 15 is rotatably mounted adjacent its rear end in asleeve 17, (Figs. l, 2 and 3), which is itself supported by a gimbaljoint 18 from a semicircular,

vertical Vbracket 19 secured tothe frame or deck of the machine, thearrangement being' such, therefore, as to permit a swinging movement ofthe bar inboth a horizontaland a vertical plane, as well as a rotarymovelongitudinal axis. A y

To limit the extent of this rotary movement of the bar, so that in oneposition the ment of said bar in either direction "bout its alternativeengagement in said notches, the

latter having' inclined bottom walls in order to push back the pinduring the rotation of the bar and thereby enable it to pass from onenotch to the other; the end walls of the notches being made abrupt so asto terminate the rotation of the bar when the pin comes into contacttherewith. The said pin I is forced outward by its associated spring,

and by means of the pressure which it is thus enabled to exert on thewall of the notch with which it happens to be engaged, serves to holdthe bar against accidental displacement. ln the particular arrangementillustrated, the pin is carried by the sleeve or journal 17, and thenotches are formed in the ring 20; and a second fixed ring 23 isprovided at the opposite side of said sleeve to hold the same in placeand prevent any endwise movement of the bar with respect thereto.

The transmission connection, as usual in Hopkins-type machines, consistsof a stylus holder 24 and a transmission rod 25. The latter is receivedwithin an eccentric bore or passage 26 =formed through `the bar 15, andprojects beyond the same at opposite ends, the rear end of the rod beingsuitably fastened to the apex of the diaphragm, (not shown), While itsfront end is connected to an extension or ear 27, formed-on the base 28of the stylus holder. The aforesaid stylus holder is resilientlyconnected to the front end of the bar by means of a leaf spring 29,which is fastened in a two-part clamping block 30, fitted in a recess31, provided in the bar end, said sprin having its terminal projectingoutwardly eyond said recess and anchored in a saw cut or slot formedinthe rear face of the base member 28. The recess communicates with thebore 26 of the bar, and the clamping block 30 is adjustable therein forthe purpose of varying the eiective length of the exposed portion of thespring.

Since the transmission connection moves as a unit during the rotarymovement of the supporting bar from one position to the other, it isnecessary for the stylus holder to be capable of a subsequent,independent movement or adjustment in order to bring it into playingposition; that is, to bring the stylus into contact withv the record.This independent movement, however, must beojfsuch a character as nottol dlsturbfthe porying part 32 vis formed at its upper end of springjaws 37 which are compressed in nere-,cee

sitions of the leaf spring 29 and the transmission rod; and for thatreason, the stylus holder is preferably constructed in two separateparts or members which are rotatably connected together, the part 32which carries the stylus being movable with relation to therelatively-fixed base member or part 28 to which the aforesaid springand rod are fastened Accordingly, the stylus-carwith a sleeve 33, whichloosely encircles a cylindrical stem 34 that projects forwardly from thebase 28, the two parts being held together by a headed screw 35. Therotating part 32 has-a movement of 90 only; 80 and to determine thelimits of this move# ment, the sleeve 33 is provided with a. transverseslot 36 in which works a pin 37, set into the upper portion of the stem34, though any other stop connection of like character may be usedinstead of the one l just described, as willbe understood.' The pin 37preferably has its upper end split, as

shown in F ig. 7, thereby providing a pair the intermediate portion 36of the slot 36, but expand in the slightly enlarged end portions 362thereof, thus exerting pressure against the end walls of said slot andconsequently tending to retain the said rotating part 32 in either ofits two extreme positions. he extension 27 is preferably formed with alongitudinal slot 38, in which the end of the transmission rodl issecured by means of a screw 39, such construction enabling an adjustmentof the rod. end with respect to the holder.

The forwardy end of the supporting bar has fitted on it a cap or sleeve40, which is made convex or dome-shaped at`- its end. This portion ofthe cap extends beyond the bar end and providesan interior chamber 4:1,wherein are received the stationary base member 28 of the stylus holder,the projecting ends of the spring 29 and the rod 25, 11o and the sleeve33, the remainder of the stylus-carrying member 32 extending 'outwardlythrough an opening 42 in the cap.

the lower notch 21 in which it was pre- 1251..'l

viously engaged, and enters the upper notch. Durlng this movement, thetransmission device moves as a unit with the bar, and the vparts withtheexception of the holder member 32, finally assume the positionsillusimanes trated in Fig. 9, in which the extension 27 projectsupwardly,.and the bore or recess 26 for the transmission rod runs alongthe upper portion of the bar. The stylus-carrying memberLQ of the holderis then turned intolig. 9"position to enable the stylus to engage therecord, or, if preferred, the adjustment of the said member 32 may takeplace at the time that the bar is being rotated, both movements beingeffected in the latter case With one hand. The reverse movements takeplace When the adjustments for playing lateral-cut records. is made, theparts moving from Fig.v 9 position to Fig. 8 position. Furtherdescriptionof the operation of the invention is considered unnecessaryin View of the foregoing.

I claim:

ll. In a talking machine, in combination, a rotatably-mounted supportingbar; and a vibration transmission connection carried by said bar andmovable with the sameduring the rotation thereof 'between a position forplaying vertical-cut records and a position for playing lateral-cutrecords, said connection including a stylus carrier movable relativelythereto into record-engaging position.

2. In a talking machine, in combination, a rotatably-mounted supportingbar; and a vibration transmission connection carried by said bar andmovable With the same between a position for playing vertical-cutrecords and a position for' playing laterabcut records, said connection.comprising a transmission rod,v and a stylus holder embodying a basemember which is fixed With relation to said rod and to which said rod isattached and a stylus-carrying member connected` with said base memberfor movement relative thereto into record-engaging position.

' gaging position.

, said bar and movable with the same between a position for playingvertical-cut records and" a position for playing lateral-entreeords,said connection comprising a transmission element, and a stylus holderembodyinga part liXed to said transmission element and a part rotatablyrelated to the fixed part and adapted to carry a stylus into recordengaging position..

6. In a 'talking machine, in combination, a rotatab1ymounted supportingbar; and a vibration transmission connection carried by said bar andmovable with the same between a position for playing vertical-cutrecords and a position for playing lateral-cut records, said connectionincluding' a' stylus holder having a stylus-carrying part which isinitially movable With said bar and is subserpiently movable relativelythereto. A

In a talking machine, in combination, a supporting bar having a boreextending therethrough, said bar being movable between playing positionfor vertical-cut records and playing position for lateral-cut records;and a vibration-transmission connection disposed Within said bore andmovable with said bar from one of such positions to the other.

8. In a talking machine, in combination, a supporting bar' having a boreextending therethrough, said bar being movable betweenv playing positionfor vertical-cut records and playing `position for lateral-cut records;and a vibration transmissioncon nection disposed Within said bore andmovable with said bar from one of such positions to the other, saidconnection including a stylus carrier movable relatively thereto intorecord-engaging position.

9. In a talking nuichine, in coinbination,v

a tubular supporting bar mounted to}1`fotate about its longitudinal axisbetween' playing position for vertical-cut records and playing positionfor lateral-cutrecords and a vibration transmission connection disposedwithin ric the bore of said bar and movable With the latter from one ofsuch other. v p

10. In a talking machine, in combination, a tubular supporting barmounted `to rotate about itslongitudinal axis between playing positionforzvertical-cut records and` playing position-for lateral-cut records;and a vibration transmission connection disposed within the bore of saidbar and movablewith the latter from one of such positions to the other,said connection including a. stylus carrier movable relatively theretointo record-engaging position.

il. In a talking machine, in combination, a support; and a vibrationtransmission depositions 'to the vice carried by said support, thesupport and.`

transmission device being movable as a unit l2. A stylus holdercomprising a hase prof vided, witha forwardly-projeetnngn cylindricalstem, a sleeve rotatably iitting on said stem, and a stylus-carryingpart rigidly connected to said sleeve to rotate therewith into and outof position to engage the stylus with a record.

- 18. A stylus holder for connection to a transmission rod, comprising ahase, a styluscarrying part rotatably related to saidbase for movementwith respect thereto into and out of record-engaging position, and asingle resilient member anchored at one end to said base and adapted tobe secured at the other end to a support for vibratwbly fastening theholder to the support, the rotation of the stylus-carrying part being ina direction at right angles to the plane of vibration of said base.

le. A stylus holder comprising a base provided with a stem, a sleeverotatably fitting` on said stem, a stylus-carrying part rigidlyconnected to said sleeve to rotate therewith into and out of positiontoy engage the stylus with a record, and a pin-and-slot conwishesnection between sai'd sleeve and stemto limit ythe rotary movementof'the sleeve in bothdirections, the pin element of said connectionhaving spring jaws adapted to grip the end walls of the slot so as toyieldingly hold.

16. A stylus holder comprising co-acting base and stylus carrying parts,one of which is rotatable with relation to the other, and

a pin-and-slot connection between said. parts to limit the movement ofthe rotatable part in bothsdirections, the slot element of saidconnection7 having 4its ends enlarged, and the pin element having,.spring jaws adapted to he compressed during the passageof the pinthrough the central part of the slot and to expand on reaching eitherenlarged end of the slot so as to rip the walls of said end andyieldingly ho'd the rotatable part in` either of its extreme positions.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

FREDRICK E. JOSS.

